Cummins 'Ready If Have To' For Captaincy In Upcoming Ashes Series

Australia vice-captain Pat Cummins is ready to lead the side if needed in the upcoming Ashes series if captain Tim Paine isn't fully fit ahead of the first test on eighth December at the Gabba in Brisbane. 

"Hopefully Tim will be fine, he's nearing 100 percent... but I'll be ready if I have to, but I doubt that," Cummins was quoted as saying by Channel Nine.

Paine is currently recovering after undergoing surgery to fix a bulging disc in his neck. 

Cummins says if he gets an opportunity to captain Australia he won't have any issues in taking help from experienced players like Steve Smith and David Warner. 

"If I was in the role and I found it tough, at times, there's ten other guys I'd lean on out in the middle. You've got people like Smithy and Davey Warner who are incredibly experienced, all the bowlers are experienced and look after themselves pretty well so I'd have no issues handballing it over to other people to help out."

Australia's leading fast bowler played a crucial role in his country's maiden T20 World Cup trophy in UAE where he played all the games, including the Final vs New Zealand. However, Cummins says he's fresh and niggle-free. 

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"There's no niggles, I feel really fresh and I always love going into a series giving myself the best chance to turn up and, if I have to bowl 50 overs in a Test, I can."